Method and apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet having a toilet tank with a vertical standpipe through which fluids enter the toilet tank and a fluid escape opening through which fluids escape from the toilet tank. The apparatus includes a rigid liner body adapted for insertion into the toilet tank to reduce the capacity of the toilet tank while improving flow dynamics. The liner body has a bottom and four sidewalls. At least two of the sidewalls converge inwardly toward the bottom. The bottom has a drain passageway adapted to overlie the fluid escape opening in the toilet tank. One the converging sidewalls has a standpipe passageway adapted to accommodate the standpipe of the toilet tank.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and associated apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current attempts to reduce water consumption of toilets have been directed either at new toilet tank configurations or at apparatus which force the early closure of the flapper valve. To date apparatus which force the early closure of the flapper valve have been preferred, as a less costly solution. Examples of water conserving toilet tank configurations include U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,513 (Blankenburg 1994) entitled Pressurized Flushing Toilet and U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,164 (LaFontaine 2001) entitled Toilet Tank Assembly. The Blankenburg reference discloses a toilet configuration with an interior water chamber with a funnel shaped bottom that directs water toward a fluid escape opening. The LaFontaine reference discloses a toilet configuration with a tapered lower surface to direct water toward a fluid escape opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet having a toilet tank with a vertical standpipe through which fluids enter the toilet tank and a fluid escape opening through which fluids escape from the toilet tank. The apparatus includes a rigid liner body adapted for insertion into the toilet tank to reduce the capacity of the toilet tank while improving flow dynamics. The liner body has a bottom and four sidewalls. At least two of the sidewalls converge inwardly toward the bottom. The bottom has a drain passageway adapted to overlie the fluid escape opening in the toilet tank. One the converging sidewalls has a standpipe passageway adapted to accommodate the standpipe of the toilet tank. Using this apparatus in accordance with the teachings of the method that will hereinafter be described permits one to inexpensively convert a standard toilet tank to a water conserving configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, in section, of the apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, shown in an operative position within the toilet tank shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view, in section, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment, an apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 1, a toilet 100 is illustrated having a toilet tank 12 is shown. Referring to FIG. 2, toilet tank 12 has a vertical standpipe 14 through which fluids enter toilet tank 12, and a fluid escape opening 16 through which fluids escape from toilet tank 12, when flapper valve 15 is raised by handle 17. It will be understood that FIG. 2 shows a simplified toilet tank, and other components may be included, which are not shown.

Structure:

Referring to FIG. 2, apparatus 10 includes a rigid liner body 18 adapted for insertion into toilet tank 12 to reduce the capacity of toilet tank 12 while improving flow dynamics. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, liner body 18 has a bottom 20 and four sidewalls 22. Sidewalls 22 converge inwardly toward bottom 20. The converging sidewalls improve flow dynamics by directing water to the outlet with increased pressure. It will be understood that not all sidewalls need converge, and this will depend on the design chosen. Referring to FIG. 2, bottom 20 has a drain passageway 24 adapted to overlie fluid escape opening 16 in toilet tank 12. Sidewall 22 on the left is shown as having a standpipe passageway 26 adapted to accommodate standpipe 14 of toilet tail 12. Standpipe passageway 26 as depicted has a depending sleeve 28 that terminates on the same plane as bottom 20.

Operation:

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, apparatus 10 is provided as described above. Referring to FIG. 2, liner 18 is then inserted into toilet tank 12, with drain passageway 24 axially aligned with fluid escape opening 16 and standpipe 14 extending up through standpipe passageway 26 and depending sleeve 28. Converging sidewalls 22 are thus able to reduce the amount of water held by toilet tank 12 and also direct water toward fluid escape opening 16 when the toilet tank is flushed by levering handle 17 which raises flapper valve 15.

In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the words are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the infinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by claims. 

1. Method for reducing water consumption in a toilet having a toilet tank with a vertical standpipe through which fluids enter the toilet tank and a fluid escape opening through which fluids escape from the toilet tank, comprising the steps of: providing a toilet tank liner adapted to fit within the toilet tank, the liner having rigid body with a bottom and four sidewalls, at least two of the sidewalls converging inwardly toward the bottom, the bottom having a drain passageway adapted to overlie the fluid escape opening in the toilet tank, at least one of the sidewalls having a standpipe passageway adapted to accommodate the standpipe of the toilet tank; inserting the liner into the toilet tank with the drain passageway axially aligned with the fluid escape opening and the standpipe extending up through the standpipe passageway, such that the converging of the at least two of the sidewalls reduces the amount of water held by the toilet tank and directs water toward the fluid escape opening when the toilet tank is flushed.
 2. An apparatus for reducing water consumption of a toilet having a toilet tank with a vertical standpipe through which fluids enter the toilet tank and a fluid escape opening through which fluids escape from the toilet tank, comprising: a rigid liner body adapted for insertion into the toilet tank to reduce the capacity of the toilet tank while improving flow dynamics, the liner body having a bottom and four sidewalls, at least two of the sidewalls converging inwardly toward the bottom, the bottom having a drain passageway adapted to overlie the fluid escape opening in the toilet tank, one of the at least two converging sidewalls having a standpipe passageway adapted to accommodate the standpipe of the toilet tank.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the standpipe passageway has a depending sleeve that terminates on the same plane as the bottom. 